310 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 



gold rivets used to attach the foil. The fragments were examined spectro- 

 graphically and proved to be free from any trace of tellurium. Silver and 

 copper were present in considerable proportions with, rather unexpectedly, 

 an appreciable quantity of tin, especially in the rivets, with traces of iron, 

 lead and antimony. A Transylvanian origin is therefore ruled out. A 

 specimen of gold quartz from the Eastern desert showed silver with traces 

 of iron, and lead and copper, but no tin, antimony, or tellurium. 



Mr. Lucas also sent a sample of copper ore from the ancient Abu Seyal 

 mine in the Eastern desert, which proved to consist mainly of oxide of 

 iron, but with 5 -48 per cent, of copper and 0-33 per cent, of nickel, and a 

 piece of malachite from a tomb, probably pre-dynastic. This contained 

 34-30 per cent, of copper, 0-67 per cent, of iron, and, unexpectedly, 2-41 

 per cent, of zinc, with much sand and insoluble matter. 



It has not been possible to obtain further samples of copper or tin ores 

 from sources likely to have been used by the early metallurgists. Two 

 slags from ancient copper-smelting sites on the Iranian side of the 

 Baluchistan frontier were sent by Dr. J. V. Harrison. They proved to be 

 typical ferrous silicate slags, containing o-66 and 0-74 per cent, of copper 

 oxide respectively, with no tin, arsenic or nickel. 



In view of the interest attaching to the early smelting of iron, every 

 opportunity of examining fragments of corroded iron has been taken. Mr. 

 Lucas sent a minute fragment of a thin blade of iron, inserted into a small 

 silver amulet in the form of a sphinx's head, now in the Cairo Museum, 

 No. J. 47314. It is of the XI Dynasty, and was found by Mr. H. E. 

 Winlock at Deir el Bahri. A micro-analysis showed that iron and nickel 

 were present in the ratio of about 1:10. The iron is therefore undoubtedly 

 meteoritic. 



On the other hand, two fragments of oxidised iron found by Mr. Mallowan 

 at Chagar Bazar, dated by the pottery as not later than 2700 and perhaps as 

 early as 3000 B.C., proved to be entirely free from nickel, and must be of 

 terrestrial origin. Manganese was absent. 



The numerous analyses of objects from Thermi made for the Committee 

 have now been published in full. 1 



Too late for inclusion in this report, a further series of specimens from 

 Troy has been received from Prof. Blegen and others from Mr. Mackay's 

 excavations at a new site in Sind. 



The work of the Committee having become known, the Secretary is 

 frequently asked by excavators and by museum curators to undertake 

 analyses of objects of archaeological interest. The recent Reports have 

 contained analyses of objects only indirectly connected with the Sumerian 

 problem, and the special technique which has been developed proves to be 

 of value in the solution of archaeological problems. It is evident, however, 

 that the small grant from the British Association will not allow of extensive 

 work in this field. With the co-operation of the Department of Scientific 

 and Industrial Research, the scope of the investigation could be widened. 

 It is suggested that an organisation might with advantage be set up, having 

 as its object the analytical and metallographic examination of objects con- 

 nected with the early use of metals, and the comparison of their composition 

 with that of available ores. A sum of £100 a year would provide for a 

 considerable number of analyses, and could perhaps be provided by a 

 committee representing the interests of excavators, museums, and 

 archaeological societies. 



1 Excavations at Thermi in Lesbos. By Miss Winifred Lamb. (Camb. Univ. 

 Press.) 



